Wood on Words: As time passes, so do the meanings of words

A few days ago we found out whether we had been bad or good. This week we’ll resolve to be better. Time marches on.

Barry Wood

A few days ago we found out whether we had been bad or good. This week we’ll resolve to be better. Time marches on.

If we go back in time, we find that “time” comes from the Old English “tima,” which is of Germanic origin. Around the same time there was the Old English “tid,” which also meant “time” or “period,” a sense preserved in words like “yuletide” and “Eastertide.”

According to “The Oxford Dictionary of Word Histories,” this sense of “tide” also inspired the word “tidy,” which originally meant “timely, opportune.” It later became associated with “attractive,” “healthy” and “skillful” before taking on its current sense of “orderly, neat” in the early 18th century.

Eventually the time connection with “tide” ebbed as well. Instead, it became associated with the rhythms of the oceans, while beaches became the sands of time — or something like that.

Time is a precious commodity, even though there may be an unlimited quantity of it. It’s certainly a valuable and versatile word.

A timepiece that loses or gains time probably ought to be repaired or replaced. In a broader sense, to “lose time” is “to let time go by without advancing one’s objective,” while to “gain time” is “to prolong a situation until a desired occurrence can take place.” The latter is an effective strategy in a race “against time”; the former isn’t.

To be “abreast of the times” is to be up-to-date or up to speed, while “behind the times” is out-of-date or old-fashioned.

However, “behind time” is merely “late,” while “ahead of time” is “early.”

“At one time” and “at the same time” can mean “simultaneously.” The former also can be “formerly,” the latter “nonetheless; however.”

To be “on time” is to be punctual. Sometimes this requires “making time” along the way.

“In good time” can mean “at the proper time” or “in a creditably short time; quickly.” Even faster is “in no time,” which is “almost instantly.” Of course, it’s possible to be too fast; then you may have to “do time.”

To “pass the time of day” is to exchange greetings.

A man with “time on his hands” has nothing to do, at least “for the time being.” Soon, however, he could be having the “time of his life.” Time will tell.

Other expressions include “at times,” “between times,” “from time to time,” “many a time” and
“time after time.”

And then there’s Sam playing “As Time Goes By.”

Occasionally, so much time has gone by that it can’t be clearly recalled. That’s “time out of mind” or “time immemorial.”

And now I’m out of time. See you next time.

Barry Wood is a Rockford Register Star copy editor. Contact him at bwood@rrstar.com or read his blog at blogs.e-rockford.com/woodonwords/.

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